Bechdel Test: TV Shows

Movies are usually a one shot deal so sexism is easy to spot. TV shows are on-going and you can spot patterns. IF you have no idea what I’m talking about, go back and read the first entry about the Bechdel test.

I did a lot more than I was originally planning on but there are several off-air shows that are crazy popular on Netflix and/or in the nerd community. Some just merit a mention

Supernatural: Fails. Caveat, I’ve only seen the first 3 seasons however, most of the female characters don’t interact save a mother & daughter in season 2.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Passes. There’s a good mix between relationship stuff and saving the world.

Firefly: Passes. They talk about work, the ship, the planet they’re on, and a variety of things including relationship stuff.

Star Trek (TNG, DS9, Voyager): All pass. All named characters, regulars and one episode wonders, have something else to discuss. I skipped TOS because 1) it’s a different era and 2) I haven’t seen it.

Warehouse 13: Passes. With an excellent balance of male and female good guys and bad guys, this show gives its characters plenty to do and care about.

BSG: Passes. Relationships add to the post apocalyptic, save-the-human-race drama.

Dr Who: Passes, mostly. The number of named female characters who interact varies from episode to episode. It’s not consistent enough to pass with flying colors although River Song helps.

Torchwood: Passes, mostly. The female characters primarily talk about the job they’re doing however Gwen is it for season 3.

Game of Thrones: Passes. Women have little power outside their wiles but still find other things to discuss.

Bachelor(ette): Epic Fail. A woman left her 25% chance of winning to save her dream job and was shamed for it. Add that to all the cat fighting and you can see why this show should be a feminist drinking game.

Sex and the City: Epic Fail. The show admits it epically fails at this in one of the episodes.

NCIS: Pass. The current episodes could use a few more female characters but it has a good balance and the women on the show have stuff to do

Big Bang Theory: Passes. Most of the women on the show are attached to the men so relationships come up a lot but the girls have really come into their own in the last few seasons.

30 Rock: Passes. I like how work defines Lemon more than her relationships. She’s more interesting to watch for it.

How I Met Your Mother: Passes. Given the premise, relationships are the main gag but other stuff does come up.

The Walking Dead: Passes. I’ve only seen season one and while it’s light on the women, every character has better things to worry about.

Criminal Minds: Passes. I haven’t seen recent seasons and the show is male dominated but they did have enough female characters that they pass.

Gilmore Girls: Passes. While it’s on much anymore, women dominated the show and did manage to find other things to talk about.

CSI (all): Passes. I’ve seen enough of each incarnation to know that the show passes.

The Office: Passes especially since the premise of the show is about work.

The IT Crowd: Fails. There are no named female characters for Jen to talk to but that is also partly the point. IT is pretty male nerd dominated.

Downton Abbey: Passes. Despite the time period, the women do find other topics to discuss.

True Blood: Passes. Despite all the sex, the supernatural always gives characters something new to discuss.

Shows I have not seen: Mad Men, Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, Friends, Seinfeld, Alias, Grey’s Anatomy, Person of Interest, Big Brother, Modern Family, New Girl, 2 Broke Girls, Nashville (probably passes), Eureka, Dexter, and Homeland (probably passes).

The easiest path to give characters something to talk about is found in either genre shows (like sci-fi or fantasy) or shows where the woman’s job is part of the premise. Sci-fi usually makes female characters stronger and more empowered. They have more agency and responsibility than you see on a show with a more ordinary premise. Gilmore Girls is a rare example of a show that is every day but the female characters are layered. They are as kick-ass as sci-fi chicks but it was a good start until the final season when they canned the good writers.

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